Improvement in portable fire-shields



UNITED STATES AARON DEAN, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FIRE-SHIELDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,749*7 dated Au'gust 8, 1871.

To all Awhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON DEAN, of Ann Arbor, in the county of Washtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Portable Fire-Walls, and I do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and being a part of this specification, in whichto prevent the latter from taking fire, and to serve as a shield to the firemen, enabling them to approach with their hose-pipes close to the burning building; and it consists in the novel and peculiar construction of the same, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, A represents a frame of wood or metal, as may be preferred, and of any practicable size, supported and pivoted at the rear end .upon a long axle, B, the hounds C of which terminate in a circle-plate, D, which may move in swinging the rear axle to enable the device to turn short, or be secured by pins a in the line of draft, as shown. E are the tractionwheels, rotating on the arms of the rear axle. F are guy-rods, extending from the arms of this axle to the top of the frame to prevent vibration in the latter. G is a single fore-wheel, rotating with its axle or shaft, journaled in the lower extremities of a bifurcated king-bolt, H, pivoted in the front part of the frame. I is a draft-pole or tongue, crotched at the rear end to receive the axis of the fore-wheel. J J are sockets on the under side of the lower sill of the frame, just behind the fore-wheel, the purpose of which is that an arm carrying a traction-wheel may be inserted at either side to steady the vehicle in going to or returning from a fire, one or both of which may be removed when at the coniagration. K are rectangular chambers, of sheet metal,narrow in their transverse section, secured to one side of the frame, and which chambers communicate with each other, as shown; or the entire shield may be a single chamber. The lower sections on the frame side should be provided with fillingtunnels L, by means of which the lower sections may be kept partially filled with water. rIhe upper section should be provided at the top with apertures to permit steam to escape before pressure is exerted upon the walls of the chambers. The lower part should be provided with openings through which streams may be directed upon the burning building, and likewise with mica-glazed lookouts. y

The device should be run in between a building and the one adjacent thereto, to prevent the latter from taking nre. If the shield be exposed to an intense heat, steam will be generated from the water contained in it, and, passing up through all the chambers, will prevent the wooden framework from igniting, as well as the radiation and transmission of heat to the adjacent property.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The construction of a portable fire-shield,

wherein the frame A, axle B, hounds C, circleplate D, traction-wheels E G, guys F, draftpole I, sockets J and metallic chamber or chambers K, provided With filling-tunnels L, are arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

AARON DEAN. Witnesses:

H. F. EBERTs, MYRON H. CHURCH. 

